Please note that the majority of the items I list are old/used and may therefore show signs of use-including minor wear & tear and / or scuffs or marks. I will however try to accurately describe all that I can see and the photographs do form an important part of the item description.

If you are still happy to proceed and subsequently have any problem at all with any part of the transaction, please get in touch with me through Ebay before leaving feedback & I will try to do all that I can to resolve any issues.

If you have any questions or require more photographs, please also feel free to get in touch through Ebay messages option on the listing.

You are invited to bid for a Joan Harding ceramic fish serving plate. A Handmade and signed slipware piece.

Maker: Joan Harding, a studio potter known for slipware and decorative ceramics.

Biography and Studio Activity

Location: Wolverhampton, England
Harding lived and worked in Wolverhampton for most of her life, contributing to the British studio pottery movement with distinctive slipware pieces.

Active Period: 1970s
Her career appears to have peaked during the 1970s, though exact start and end dates are not widely documented.

This plate has what looks like a repaired crack. I found the below explanation on the Internet

 Cracks During Production

Cracks during firing: These can occur due to uneven drying, thermal shock, or stress in the clay body. Slipware and hand-built pieces are particularly prone to this.

On-the-spot repairs:

A potter might use wet clay, slip, or glaze filler to mend a crack before refiring.

In some cases, the piece is refired with the repair, and the crack becomes part of the final aesthetic.

Intentional retention: If the crack doesn’t compromise the structure, a potter may choose to keep it visible—especially in studio pottery, where imperfections are embraced as part of the handmade character.

Mark of authenticity: A well-repaired firing crack can indicate the potter’s decision to preserve a piece they valued, rather than discard it. It may even be signed or numbered, reinforcing its legitimacy.

Will be packaged with care